德国科学家团队在《科学》杂志发表论文，揭示了蜗牛黏液的工程原理[1]。研究以林蜗牛为研究对象，这种蜗牛能够分泌五种不同类型的黏液[1]。科研人员发现，胶原蛋白和钙的协同作用是调节黏液机械性能的关键机制[1]。
蜗牛分泌的黏液具有多种功能用途[1]。这些黏液包括润滑、粘合、保湿等类型，还包括蜗牛在冬眠期分泌的上表皮膜，其中含有方解石[1]。黏液中的黏蛋白和复杂碳水化合物赋予了黏液特定的粘性特性[1]。
此前的研究已经揭示了蜗牛黏液的医学价值[1]。2020年的研究发现，花园蜗牛黏液与金纳米颗粒结合可加速小鼠伤口愈合并具有抗炎性[1]；2023年的研究则鉴定出花园蜗牛分泌的三种不同黏液类型[1]。
A team of German scientists has uncovered the biological mechanisms behind snail mucus production, revealing how these gastropods fine-tune their secretions for different purposes. Research published in the journal Science demonstrates that snails achieve varying mechanical properties in their slime through the coordinated action of collagen and calcium [1]. The study focused on the grove snail (Cepaea nemoralis), which produces five distinct types of mucus, each tailored to specific functions including lubrication, adhesion, moisture retention, and the formation of a protective epidermis during hibernation [1].
The composition of snail mucus proves far more sophisticated than commonly understood. The secretions contain mucins and complex carbohydrates that confer particular viscosity characteristics suited to each mucus type [1]. Prior research has indicated the therapeutic potential of snail secretions; a 2020 study found that garden snail mucus combined with gold nanoparticles accelerated wound healing in mice and exhibited anti-inflammatory properties [1]. A 2023 study identified three distinct mucus types secreted by garden snails [1], contributing to the current understanding of how snails precisely engineer their slime to meet diverse biological demands.